Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of shell and weapon. Weapon stealing shell.
Symbolism
Pirate, thief, rebel. Represents thief.
Component Breakdown
shell + 戎
Words & Expressions
Words written with 賊
Four-Character Compounds
乱臣賊子
らんしんぞくし
rebels against one's lord and one's parents; rebellious (treacherous) subject; traitor
Anime & Manga
ONE PIECE
One Piece
Adventure to become King of the 'Pirates.' World's best-selling manga.
海賊王女
Fena: Pirate Princess
A well-known work with 賊 in its Japanese title.
Games
ペルソナ5
Persona 5(2016)
Developer: Atlus
Story of high schoolers who steal hearts as 'phantom thieves.'
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
“rebel”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 賊 mean in Japanese?
賊 means burglar, rebel, traitor, robber.
How do you read 賊?
On'yomi: ゾク (ZOKU).
How many strokes does 賊 have?
賊 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 貝 (shell).
Is 賊 a good kanji for a tattoo?
賊 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means burglar, rebel, traitor, robber. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:rebel